ljubljana

Background: Located within an hour from Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is one of the country’s most popular attractions. Postojna Cave is one of the largest karst cave networks in the world, dating back two million years. An incredible series of passages, chambers and galleries, visitors are left in awe at the sheer beauty of the natural formations.

Source: Flickr – Michael R Perry

The caves: Postojna Cave was established by the Pivka River, which through many years, hollowed out the shape it is today. A web of dry galleries await, hosting a stunning display of white stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes. The largest of which is a whopping five metres long. The Caves hold a constant temperature of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius and have a humidity of 95%, so make sure you wrap up warm and bring a waterproof jacket, although green felt capes can be hired at the entrance for a small fee.

Source: Postojna Caves Official Website

The tour: Over 5km of the cave waiting to be explored, the tour takes you through spectacular passages, tunnels and halls. The first section is via the cave railway that navigates all the way to Velika Gora (Big Mountain). On the way you’ll experience awe-inspiring scenes of enormous stalagmites shaped like needles and spaghetti while others have taken the bizarre shape of everyday items such as pears, cauliflowers and sand castles. From the mountain, the remainder is by foot (1.7km) where a guide (in English) walks you across the 500m long Russian Bridge, aptly named, as it was built by prisoners of war in 1916, to beautiful caves such as Spaghetti Hall, the White Hall and the Red Hall.

The cave train. Source: Postojna Caves Official Website

The human fish: Lurking within the caves is a mysterious creature that have baffled the minds of zoologists for years. The Proteus Anguinus is a type of salamander, blind, has four legs, breathes through gills and has human like skin. It is the largest known vertebrate that lives permanently in Postojna Cave and can reach up to 30cm in length.

Proteus Anguinus. Source: Postojna Caves Official Website

Scientists remain mystified has to how they reproduce as it has never been witnessed in its natural state. The cave is also home to another hundred species including water snails and bats. Visitors can see the Proteus Anguinus in the unique vivarium, which is open half an hour before the first tour starts and the closes half an hour after the last cave tour. There is an additional fee to visit the vivarium.

Getting there: Postojna Cave is located 55km south-west of Ljubljana and well signposted from the A1 motorway. Buses from the capital are also regular, departing hourly and arrive in Postojna centre (1 hour). From here it is a ten minute walk to the cave. Arriving by train is another option and also takes an hour from Ljubljana and depart throughout the day. The station in Postojna is slightly further from the cave however, although this allows you to explore the beautiful town.

Source: Postojna Caves Official Website

When to visit: The cave is open all year round and during the main season (April to September), tours take place every hour up to late afternoon. Outside the main season, there are three to four tours per day, from 10am.

The wonderful world of Slovenia’s Postojna Caves was last modified: November 20th, 2014 by Jack Fleming

First off: Few European capitals have escaped the mass hordes of British tourists, whether on romantic getaways to Paris or Rome or a ‘last days of freedom’ stag weekend in Prague or Tallinn. How Ljubljana (pronounced Lyoo-blee-yah-nah) has managed this is somewhat baffling, for it encapsulates the perfect city break formula of charm and affordability along with a relaxed vibe.

Where: The pocket-sized capital to one of Europe’s smallest countries, Slovenia, where just two million call home is the geographic, economic and symbolic heart of the nation. Its very size makes it a very manageable city to explore, offering visitors a range of sights and sounds within easy walking distance, complete with a stunning river winding around the historic quarter and a hilltop castle. What’s more, great locals make Ljubljana one of the friendliest capitals in Europe.

When: Every season has its rewards. Spring is beautiful and great for exploring the city and its surroundings. Summer offers long warm days and balmy evenings, perfect for riverside dining after experiencing the Slovenian take on life. During autumn and winter you can take advantage of a quieter scene.

Touch down: Flights from London Stansted leave 5 times a week November-March and daily April-October. Ljubljana’s Joze Plecnik airport is 27km north-west of the capital.

Check in: Hotel Slon (4 star) offers bright, modern and colourful rooms within a stone’s throw of the very heart of the capital. Standard features include air conditioning, flat screen HD TVs and free Wi-Fi.

Explore: Of course, the length of your stay will essentially influence what you see and do. However, in two or three days you can absorb the essence of this stunning little city. First on the agenda is what every local would recommend: spending a few hours gathering your bearings and exploring the city. In Ljubljana, all roads lead to Preseren Square (Presernov trg), so start your recce here. One of Ljubljana’s main landmarks and meeting points for locals is the statue of Slovenia’s national poet, France Preseren, standing adjacent to the striking salmon-pink Franciscan Church. Head towards the aptly named Triple Bridge followed by a good couple of hours seeking out landmarks such as Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Stolnica Sv. Nikolaja), the fascinating Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most) and the Town Hall.

No city break to Ljubljana would be complete without the obligatory castle outing. The funicular from Krekov Trg (Market Square) will whizz you up in seconds to where the mighty fortress stands. A former royal residence originally dating back to the 16th century, it is commonly considered to be the heart and soul of the city. If you only do one thing at the castle, make sure it is the climb up the wrought iron staircase to the top of the watchtower where you’ll be rewarded with outstanding panoramic views over the city. A trip to the Virtual Museum is equally as enjoyable, giving a resume of the city’s history via a 3D video tour.

Getting around: It’s easy to explore the heart of the city on foot, although Ljubljana is also bike-friendly. Bicycles can be rented from the national tourist office at 10 Krekov Trg.

Where to eat: Spajza, 28 Gornji Trg. Popular with locals, this superb restaurant offers delicious, traditional food from a creative menu complimented by attentive and knowledgeable service. In the summer you can dine in the outdoor courtyard while in winter, many little rooms with old wooden floors give a warm, intimate setting. Start with porcini scallops followed by gnocchi with truffles and end with panna cotta.

Where to drink: A dizzying choice of bars and cafes run parallel to the Ljubljanica River. Makalonca makes the best use of its superb riverside location and is popular with local people. Chill out by day and watch the world go by. At night twinkling candles turn this little beauty into an intimate and romantic affair

Relax: A pleasing mix of gardens, meadow and forest, Tivoli Park is Ljubljana’s largest and most beautiful green and leafy area. It is the perfect setting to take a break from sight-seeing and is only a 10 minute walk from Triple Bridge. The 5 sq km park features many monuments, fountains, mansions and a children’s playground and is almost worth visiting the Slovenian capital just to come here.

Excursions: Still perceived as one of Europe’s best kept secrets by us Brits, is Lake Bled. Located an hour’s drive west from the capital is Slovenia’s most popular tourist destination. A setting of emerald-green waters, a cliff top castle surrounded by often snow-capped mountains and Slovenia’s only island where the stunning St Martin’s Pilgrimage church stands, Lake Bled is as beautiful as it is magical. Buses run throughout the day from Ljubljana’s main bus station at Trg Osvobodilne Fronte.

Money saving tips: A 48 or 72 hour ‘Urbana’ or ‘Tourist’ card gives free entry to a wide range of museums, unlimited public transport and discounts on taxis, restaurants and other services. A 48 hour card costs 27 Euros if bought online or 30 Euros bought at a Tourist Information Centre or in a hotel. The 72 hour costs 31.50 Euros online or 35 Euros at regular price.